The finale of Breaking Bad was a bit of a bummer, not only because it marked the end of our weekly fix of new developments in the saga of Walt and Jesse, but also because we all knew it would leave a certain void in our entertainment palate. The series had become such an icon of televisual achievement over the course of its five seasons that an heir to its unique cultural status—gaining a significant appeal among both widespread audiences and TV critics—appeared far off, unlikely to emerge for some time due to the seemingly unmatchable quality of Vince Gilligan’s show.
Perhaps it’s a testament to the extent to which Breaking Bad and other shows have elevated the medium, and/or because of the flood of cinematic talent pouring into TV shows right now, but a new series worthy of accepting the ‘Best Show On TV’ baton (if such a thing were to actually exist/matter) is already here, and you’re likely to have heard of it by now: True Detective. HBO’s famous slogan, “It’s not TV. It’s HBO,” was first introduced in the 90s, but it may be more applicable now than ever thanks to the efforts of stars Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, creator and writer Nic Pizzolatto and director Cary Fukunaga. The consensus around True Detective is that it feels like more than your standard weekly TV cop show.
Why has it attracted all this praise, and made many of us feel more excited for each new episode than any series since Breaking Bad? Here are 6 answers as to why this may be.
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